No food, no booze, but the show goes on

A power saw can be heard outside The Southern, which opens tonight at the Downtown Mall site of the former Gravity Lounge with The Books. Co-owner Andy Gems says the new venue doesn't have its ABC license, nor will food be served tonight, but all that's coming soon. Gems took over the establishment in the spring with The Flat creperie owner Lauren McCraven after landlord Ludwig Kuttner ousted previous tenant Bill Baldwin.